The Russian section of the Iernational Space Station, which is exposed to “cracks and air leaks,” has been classified as a “high risk to safety” in a new NASA report released Thursday.
According to RCO News Agency, The leak, found inside a tunnel that connects to a docking station, has been monitored since 2019 and is listed in official documes from 2021. However, NASA detected an “increased leak rate” last February and said in a report this week that the root cause of the leak remains unknown.
According to the New York Post, the United States is working with the Russian space program, Roscosmos, to determine its origin. The report noted that both agencies currely narrow their focus to domestic and foreign welding.
In a worst-case scenario, the Russians may need to permanely close the valve area around the leaks, leaving their sector with only the connection poi.
The leak in June has the highest threat level on the space station’s “risk matrix” in terms of probability and consequences. At the same time, the ISS and Roscosmos met to address “escalating concerns about increased leak rates.”
The Russians are confide they will get everything under corol before the leak rate reaches uenable levels.
In February of this year, NASA detected an increase in the leak rate from less than 1 pound atmosphere per day to 2.4 pounds per day, and in April this rate increased to 3.7 pounds per day. However, NASA and Roscosmos have yet to agree on the poi at which the leak rate becomes unsolvable.
There are also questions about the lifespan of the Iernational Space Station after 2030.
end of message
